Cogent Conversations

Each summer, the Warrior Games bring together service members and veterans from across the branches of the U.S. military to compete in adaptive sports and celebrate resilience, teamwork, and recovery. This episode of Cogent Conversations discusses the history of the Games and the behind-the-scenes coordination that keeps them running safely each year. 

Our host, Dr. Shelly Weinstein, is joined by Dr. Chris Meyering, medical director of the Warrior Games; Dr. Jessy McLean, sports physical therapy resident with the U.S. Navy in Quantico; and returning guest Dr. Megan Mitchell, physical therapist and instructor at Cogent Steps. Together, they discuss emergency action planning, on-site medical support, athlete rehabilitation, and interagency collaboration—reflecting on the powerful connections forged through adaptive competition and the lessons learned from serving those who serve.

In this episode of Cogent Conversations, Dr. Shelly Weinstein welcomes Dr. Nailah Coleman, a board-certified pediatrician and sports medicine specialist based in Washington, D.C. Dr. Coleman shares insights from her wide-ranging career spanning clinical practice, sports medicine leadership, and health equity advocacy.

The discussion explores her roles with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine, her work with underserved youth athletes, and her leadership in major endurance events. Together, they discuss the evolving field of pediatric sports medicine, strategies for community-based athlete care, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in advancing the next generation of sports clinicians.

How does the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization keep its athletes healthy, prepared, and protected? In this special episode, Dr. Shelly Weinstein and Dr. Mike Turnwald speak with Dr. Heather Linden and Dr. Jennifer Neudorfer from the UFC Performance Institute about the intersection of performance science and emergency medicine. 

The discussion explores how the Institute sets a new standard in athlete health and safety, covering emergency response training, the development and implementation of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), injury prevention, and performance optimization. The group shares lessons learned from Cogent Steps’ Emergency Response for the Athlete course, insights into high-stakes event medicine, and what it takes to prepare world-class athletes to perform safely at the highest level.

In this episode of Cogent Conversations, Dr. Shelly Weinstein sits down with Brian McGuire, who serves as the lead athletic trainer for the NFL Scouting Combine as well as an injury spotter in the league’s Player Health and Safety Program. Brian takes listeners behind the scenes of the combine, explaining the evolving role of athletic trainers in protecting athletes and highlighting the importance of preparation, communication, and emergency action planning at every level of sport.

He offers an inside look at how spotters work behind the scenes to protect players and shares insights on how the role has evolved, the technology and training that support it, and why spotters are a crucial part of game-day safety in the NFL.

In this episode of Cogent Conversations, host Dr. Shelley Weinstein speaks with Ann Marie Husk, Kerry Mullenix, and Jenna Austell—three dual-credentialed clinicians from Duke University—about the development and structure of Duke’s Sports Physical Therapy Residency and Division I Athletics Fellowship. The panel discusses the origins of the fellowship, its unique emphasis on immersive training within a Division I setting, and the critical role of mentorship in shaping future sports physical therapists. 

In addition to collegiate-level exposure, fellows also gain valuable experience working with high school athletes and engaging in care at the community level. Their conversation sheds light on how Duke’s program equips fellows with the experience needed to thrive in high-performance environments and contributes to the evolution of the field.

In this episode of Cogent Conversations, Dr. Shelley Weinstein welcomes Dr. Fran O’Connor, a medical director for the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP), as well as a professor for military and emergency medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The conversation focuses on Exercise Collapse Associated with Sickle Cell Trait (ECAST) and exertional sickling, as Dr. O’Connor shares insights from his decades of experience treating endurance athletes and military personnel. 

Together, they explore the critical differences between sickle cell disease and trait, and highlight the underrecognized risks associated with the trait, particularly in athletic and military settings. In having this conversation, we hope to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the public about sickle cell disease and trait to prevent avoidable tragedies.

The Director's Letter referenced in the podcast can be found here, and Dr. O'Connor's video on Sickle Cell Trait Implications on Exercise and Military Service, which was also mentioned, can be watched here.

This episode of Cogent Conversations features Dr. Brian Fischer, a sports physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Host Shelley Weinstein and Dr. Fischer discuss the long-term impact of inadequate care and the importance of specialized training in sports rehab.

The conversation also touches on Dr. Fischer’s professional journey, his certifications, and his emphasis on ensuring athletes receive individualized and knowledgeable treatment plans. They highlight the need for collaboration among providers and the value of continuing education in sports-specific rehab to improve outcomes and prevent long-term injury, and Dr. Fischer’s work supporting the health and readiness of tactical athletes like firefighters and EMS personnel.

This episode of Cogent Conversations features a comprehensive discussion on mass casualty preparedness and the critical role of stress management in emergency training. Host Shelly Weinstein is joined by Cogent Steps Instructors Dr. Megan Mitchell and Joel Bannister, as well as Dr. Kristina Stanich, a physical therapist who works for the US government. The episode underscores the need for proactive training to ensure readiness for large-scale emergencies.

The conversation highlights the value of stress management during training, as well as the benefits of training focused on mass casualty preparedness, using Cogent Steps' recent course with Rocky Mountain University to train students for a potential mass casualty event as an example. The panelists of guests also discuss the lack of prioritization for mass casualty preparedness at large-scale events and the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration among agencies when doing so. 

This episode of Cogent Conversations features Dr. John Jardine, an emergency medicine physician currently working at Kent Hospital in Rhode Island. Host Shelley Weinstein and Dr. Jardine discuss his experience in endurance medicine, exploring the challenges of providing medical support at events—particularly in treating exertional heat stroke—as climate plays a more prominent role in our lives.

Dr. Jardine shares insights on the importance of rapid response, teamwork, and the unique demands of medical planning for large-scale athletic competitions, and highlights his work at events like the Beach to Beacon race and the Marine Corps Marathon.

This episode of Cogent Conversations features Fire Chief Brian Weston, a federal firefighter and paramedic overseeing Marine Corps Base Quantico's Fire and EMS services. Chief Weston and Cogent Conversations Host Shelly Weinstein discuss the unique challenges of emergency management on a military base, including differences from civilian departments and other logistical complexities. 

The conversation focuses on the importance of incident action plans (IAPs) for large-scale events, explaining how they enhance coordination among multiple agencies and improve response efficiency. Chief Weston also shares insights on overcoming communication barriers, the role of logistics in emergency planning, and best practices for event organizers to collaborate effectively with first responders.